Finley Yasho - student with Mike Van Petten

01 Nov November 2023 Mentor Spotlight

Posted at 14:23h in Mentor Match Spotlight by

 

 

This November the student-mentor spotlight is on mentor Mike Van Petten and his mentee, Finley Yasho

 

Mike Van Petten, Mentor

What do you consider to be your hometown? How long have you lived in Fernandina Beach?
My hometown is Wheaton Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. I lived there through High School. I’ve lived in Nassau county since 2017. I moved here after I retired in Tampa, Florida.

What made you decide to mentor with Take Stock?
I heard about TSIC at a dinner party from a former board member. I had been on boards in the past, but I always participated at the Board and Committee levels. I really wanted to connect at the operational level. The idea of mentoring a student was very exciting to me, and I jumped on board right away.

How many students have you mentored?
Finley is the first student I’ve mentored.

What have you gained from mentoring Finley?
I’ve gained a wonderful friendship. I look forward to our weekly sessions. Finley is an amazing young man. I’ve enjoyed watching him grow through High School. He’ll be a senior this fall. He is artistic and loves to draw and play guitar. He is incredibly smart and hard working. He teaches me things all of the time. It will be a busy senior year getting ready for college, but Finley will face the challenge head on.

 

Finley Yasho, Yulee High School Senior

Why did you want to apply for Take Stock?
I wanted to apply for Take Stock because I was worried about navigating the time leading up to college, as well as how I was going to pay for it.

What have you learned from your relationship with your mentor, Mike?
My relationship with Mike has taught me a lot. He’s taught me to break down problems into manageable goals to tackle them. He’s also shared a lot of funny and insightful stories from his life and about growing up.

What is your favorite memory from TSIC?
My favorite TSIC memory was the mini golf day at Island Falls. We played against my brother and his mentor and when we lost, Mike had to buy everyone ice cream.

What are your plans after you graduate high school and TSIC?
I know I’m going to college, but I’m still open to exploring options for career paths. I’m creative and a problem solver, so I’m looking for the type of career that will match with my lifestyle and mindset.